Apartments for Rent in Baka (Jerusalem)
Apartments for Rent in Baka (Jerusalem)
Looking for apartments for rent in Baka (Jerusalem)? This page gives international buyers and tenants a practical picture of Baka: what is on the market, who lives there, how the process works and what to check before you sign.
Official market data — Jerusalem (Israel CBS, 2026)
Average apartment price in Jerusalem: ₪3,089,000 (change vs. H1 2025: 0%)
National average: ₪2,392,000 in H1 2026 (+3.9% vs. H1 2025); the CBS housing price index for February–March 2026 was down 1.2% year on year
Average monthly rent in Jerusalem: ₪5,280 (CBS, Q1 2026)
Purchase tax for a foreign resident or investor: 8% up to ₪6,055,070 and 10% above; bank financing for non-residents is capped at 50% of the property value (up to 75% for an Israeli resident buying a single home)
Source: Israel Central Bureau of Statistics — average apartment prices for the first half of 2026 (published 15 September 2026), the housing price index (published 15 May 2026) and the Q1 2026 rent survey. These are city-wide averages; the actual price depends on the neighborhood, size, floor and condition. Before any decision we show you real transactions recorded with the Israel Tax Authority in the area you are considering.
Below you will find how renting apartments in Baka actually works – lease conventions, what landlords ask for, which areas suit which tenants, and how to secure a good apartment without being in the country.
Baka at a glance
Baka is a southern Jerusalem neighbourhood of Arab-style stone houses, tree-lined streets and the HaMesila railway park, between Derech Beit Lechem and Derech Hebron, with a large community of English- and French-speaking families and the First Station complex on its doorstep.
Getting around:Buses to the centre; the First Station and the Talpiot employment zone are minutes away.
Renting apartments in Baka
Israeli residential leases are simpler than in many countries but have local conventions. A standard lease runs twelve months, frequently with an option to extend for a second year at a pre-agreed rent. The tenant pays the rent plus municipal tax (arnona), building maintenance (va'ad bayit) and utilities, and the landlord expects security in the form of post-dated cheques, a bank guarantee or a promissory note, sometimes backed by guarantors.
How we secure a rental for a client who is abroad:
Brief – budget, move-in date, size in rooms and square metres, furnished or not, parking, elevator, safe room, pets, and any community or school requirements.
Search – we combine agency listings, private listings and our own network in Baka, then pre-screen every candidate in person.
Video viewing – you see the apartment, the building and the street before deciding.
Lease review – we read the Hebrew contract with you, negotiate the option year, security and maintenance clauses, and arrange a translation.
Move-in – meter readings, inventory, keys, and set-up of arnona, electricity, water and internet in your name.
Streets and landmarks to know in Baka
Before you compare individual listings, decide which part of Baka suits you. The main areas are:
Derech Beit Lechem –the main street with cafés and shops
The old stone-house streets –renovated houses with gardens
The HaMesila park edge –apartments along the railway park
Mekor Chaim –the adjoining neighbourhood
Housing stock and who rents in Baka
What you will find on the market: restored Arab-style houses, garden apartments, 1950s–70s buildings and new boutique projects.
Who you will be competing with: Anglo and French families, religious-Zionist buyers and diaspora holiday-home owners.
Family rentals move quickly, especially before the school year.
Lease terms and costs you will see in Baka
Term –twelve months is standard; an option year at a pre-agreed rent is common and worth negotiating
Security –post-dated cheques, a bank guarantee or a promissory note, sometimes with guarantors; overseas tenants can often substitute a larger deposit
Running costs –arnona (municipal tax) set by the city and the property's zone and size, va'ad bayit (building fees, higher in towers with elevators, pools or a doorman), electricity, water and gas
Agent fee –customarily about one month's rent plus VAT if an agent found the apartment for you
Repairs –the lease should say who fixes the air conditioning, water heater and appliances – in Israel this is often the tenant for minor items
How Kobi Elkayam Real Estate helps
Kobi Elkayam Real Estate Ltd is part of the Elkayam Group, a Tel Aviv family business whose roots go back to 1945 and is now in its third generation. The group is active as a developer – in urban renewal, combination deals and complex transactions – and as a brokerage for international clients, working in English, French and Hebrew from its offices at 37 Rival Street, Tel Aviv.
Rental search in Baka –agency, private and off-market listings pre-screened in person
Video viewings –so you can decide from abroad
Lease negotiation and translation –option year, security, maintenance and notice clauses
Move-in and set-up –utilities, arnona, internet and furniture where needed
Buy-later planning –if the rental is your first step towards buying, we plan the purchase in parallel
Can a foreigner rent apartments in Baka?
Yes. There is no residency requirement to rent in Israel. Landlords will want identification, proof of income or savings and security – cheques, a bank guarantee or guarantors – and an overseas tenant can usually offer a larger deposit or a foreign guarantor instead. Signing can be done remotely with a power of attorney or in person.
How much deposit or security do landlords in Baka ask for?
Conventions vary by landlord rather than by law. Common arrangements are post-dated cheques for the year, a bank guarantee equal to a few months' rent, a promissory note with Israeli guarantors, or a cash deposit. Overseas tenants without Israeli guarantors usually negotiate a larger deposit instead.
Are apartments in Baka rented furnished?
Most long-term rentals in Israel come unfurnished but with kitchen cabinets, a water heater and usually air conditioning; furnished units are a minority and often belong to owners abroad. Family rentals move quickly, especially before the school year.
What extra costs come with a rental in Israel?
On top of rent the tenant pays arnona (municipal tax), va'ad bayit (building maintenance), electricity, water, gas and internet. Arnona depends on the city, the zone and the size of the apartment; building fees are higher in towers with elevators, pools or a doorman. If an agent found the apartment, the customary fee is about one month's rent plus VAT.
Related guides
Talk to us about a rental in Baka.Call +972-53-658-4252, write to support@kobielkayamrealestateltd.com, orleave your detailsand a member of the team will get back to you in English, French or Hebrew.